The Legislature’s Planning, Energy, and Environmental Quality Committee focused on the issue of energy in much of its deliberations today.

The committee, without dissent, recommended that the Legislature formally oppose underground hydrocarbon storage adjacent to Seneca Lake.  Considering the matter in response to a request to Legislature Chair Mike Lane from retired healthcare executive Dr. Rob Mackenzie, who resides in the Schuyler County Town of Hector, the resolution, to go before the full Legislature November 6, joins other municipalities in respectfully requesting that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation withhold or rescind approval of any plan for gas storage adjacent to Seneca Lake.

According to information provided to the committee, a Texas firm proposes to make Watkins Glen a regional propane gas storage hub by converting unused caverns into high-pressure gas storage cavities for liquid propane and compressed natural gas, with associated heavy rail and tanker truck traffic associated with the facility.  The resolution advanced by the committee expresses deep concern about the likelihood of extremely severe catastrophic events from such a facility, as well as contamination of Seneca Lake, and expresses concern that such events could significantly damage the Seneca Lake watershed and the viticulture, tourism, and economy of the entire Finger Lakes region, including Tompkins County.

The committee also began some discussion on the matter of fossil fuel use, in light of a NYSEG proposal to increase natural gas capacity in the County by constructing a seven-mile, 10-inch distribution line from a transmission line in Freeville along West Dryden Road to Warren Road in the Town of Lansing.  Planning Commissioner Ed Marx asked that, in review of such issues, the committee, as one factor, think about the potential effect on meeting the County’s stated greenhouse gas emission goals—to achieve an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 and a 20% reduction by 2020.  He noted that near-term actions will be important in the ability of the County to reach those goals.  The Planning Department, he said, is working on the Energy Roadmap initiative, which will form the basis for community discussion beginning early next year.  He said it will be up to the Legislature to decide its position on these issues.

The committee heard comments from six people regarding the issue, including Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Tavares, who presented a resolution passed by the Chamber Board of Directors that supports construction of distribution line for the benefit of existing and future commercial development, and development of new housing.  Others addressing the committee suggested that alternate, sustainable approaches be employed to address the energy issue—one of them Caroline town council member Irene Weiser who recommended that the County develop “zero GHG growth policies.”

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